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Five possible scenarios for Louisville basketball’s 2019-20 roster

By Jacob Lane

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 12: Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville Cardinals reacts after making a three-point baskwet against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on January 12, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Louisville won 83-62. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 12: Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville Cardinals reacts after making a three-point baskwet against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on January 12, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Louisville won 83-62. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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LOUISVILLE, KY – JANUARY 26: Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville Cardinals reacts after a dunk against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the second half of the game at KFC YUM! Center on January 26, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville won 66-51. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Scenario #1 – V.J. King stays in the draft/transfers, Jordan Nwora & Steven Enoch return

I’m no gambling man, but If I had to put my money down today on the most likely scenario to play itself by the May 29th deadline to return or stay in the draft, this would be the one I pick.

With the news on Thursday of St. Joseph guard Fresh Kimble committing to Louisville for his graduate season, it means that a scholarship is going to be freed up. That announcement came just one day after the weird report (I’m not sure why it’s weird, it just was) of V.J. King putting his name in the 2019 NBA Draft while “keeping all options open.”

To me the two moves are by no means coincidences. Instead I think Chris Mack received final word from King that he would be declaring for the Draft with the intentions to transfer for his final season (King would be a graduate transfer) shall he not get the feedback he might desire.

For Louisville fans this would be the dream scenario. While of course every one is appreciative of the work put in by VJ King and his dedication to the program even in hard times, King’s fit in Chris Mack’s system seemed to raise more and more questions as the season went on. Using that open scholarship on a big need for the 2019-20 roster, a graduate point guard, while bringing back the ACC’s Most Improved Player in 2018-19 and the team’s sixth man, and best low post scorer, would mean the Cards would be set for a run at the Final Four.

Rolling out a potential starting five of Fresh Kimble, Sam Williamson, Jordan Nwora, Dwayne Sutton, and Malik Williams or Steven Enoch, would give the Cards one of, if not the, best starting five in the ACC.

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